COMMUNICATION Introduction Meaning of communication Communication Process Models of Communication

Introduction To teach is to communicate. Teacher’s work involves sending and receiving messages and ensure that there is understanding of his message sent to the students. Therefore without effective communication there is no effective teaching and no learning can occur (Moore, K. D: 1998). Communication forms the link between the teacher and students along which information, concepts, opinions and attitudes flow. This requires active participation on the part of the students.

Poor communication leads to mistakes, misunderstandings and time wasting and have a drastic effect on individual relationships resulting to feelings of dissatisfaction and poor cooperation. ‘Information not merely transmitted and received, it is interpreted’ (Walklin,L;1982:20)

Communication is ‘the art of successfully conveying one’ meaning to others by means of an interchange of experience’ p.3 ‘All procedures by which one mind can affect another’ (1966:15)

Communication Process Basic Linear model Steps Sending: initiating a message and expressing some meaning Encoding: deciding, choosing words and gestures to communicate and interpret the intended message basing on conventions so that the receiver can understand Transmission: transferring the spoken or written message from sender to receiver

Receiving: the incoming message reaching the receiver and the receiver whom the message is directed attends to it Decoding: constructing and interpreting meanings of the message according to conventions Influencing: the effect of the message. The receiver will act or responds verbally

Speaker’s reason to communicate or exchange information, has certain feelings and attitude to communicate, the message is good, has a good intention, people will like to hear it and the truth of the message Particular order and sequence of the idea or message so as to influence the receiver/audience Choose words and language that will be understood and people be affected Present it to people in a good manner In short emphasizes, need to communicate, appropriate message, appropriate and effective media and good presentation

Instructing involves two way communication.

One way communication Teacher talks, students don’t ask questions, don’t comment, don’t seek for clarification, don’t clear their ambiguities. Students interprets instructions. If they don’t tell the teacher to slow down the latter won’t check understanding

Two ways communication: Students can question and the teacher clarifies resolves ambiguities. Both teacher and students give and receive feedback. The teacher can know about the students’ understanding and completion of the task and checks students’ work.

Geoff Petty (2004:38); communication that works: What I mean What I say What they hear what they understand

Communication Process models